30 Radiation source layer 32 Semiconductor that absorbs the radiation 34 Junction that separates the charges 36 Contacts that carry the current out Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. A power source that turns the energy given off by radioactive material into a small, steady electric current, with no fuel to burn and no moving parts.
20 Porous framework (metal organic framework) 22 Carbon nano-onions in the framework cells 24 Open pores for the electrolyte 26 Current collector Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. An electrode made by coating a very porous framework material with activated carbon nano-onions, so there is more surface to store electric charge.
10 Nanodiamond core 12 Graphitic shells formed by annealing 14 Treated outer surface 16 Electrolyte ions held at the surface Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. A way of making carbon nano-onions by heating tiny diamond particles until their outer layers turn into curved sheets of graphite, then treating the surface.
50 Sealed vessel 52 Liquid or gas medium carrying the radioisotope 54 Converter that turns the energy into current 56 Terminals Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. A nuclear voltaic power source that holds its radioactive material as a fine aerosol inside xenon gas.
50 Sealed vessel 52 Liquid or gas medium carrying the radioisotope 54 Converter that turns the energy into current 56 Terminals Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. A nuclear voltaic system that uses liquid xenon around radioactive isotopes as part of turning their energy into electricity.
50 Sealed vessel 52 Liquid or gas medium carrying the radioisotope 54 Converter that turns the energy into current 56 Terminals Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. A nuclear voltaic system in which a liquid scintillator turns radiation into light, and the light is turned into electricity.
50 Sealed vessel 52 Liquid or gas medium carrying the radioisotope 54 Converter that turns the energy into current 56 Terminals Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. A radioisotope-powered system that uses a liquid to carry the energy of radiation towards the part that makes electricity.
40 Cylindrical battery casing 42 Spherical cell 44 Semiconductor shell around the source 46 Terminal Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. A spherical semiconductor cell designed to turn more of a radioisotope's energy into electricity, made to be stacked into larger power systems.
40 Cylindrical battery casing 42 Spherical cell 44 Semiconductor shell around the source 46 Terminal Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. Ways of stacking spherical nuclear voltaic cells inside the familiar cylindrical shape of an everyday battery.
50 Sealed vessel 52 Liquid or gas medium carrying the radioisotope 54 Converter that turns the energy into current 56 Terminals Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. A nuclear voltaic power source that carries its radioactive material as an aerosol in a noble gas.
30 Radiation source layer 32 Semiconductor that absorbs the radiation 34 Junction that separates the charges 36 Contacts that carry the current out Illustrative drawing of the subject, not a figure from the patent document. The part of a nuclear voltaic battery that turns radiation into electricity, redesigned from microcrystals to waste less energy.